The Making of a Hobey Baker Finalist in 2017

 

Ten players have named finalists for the Hobey Baker Award; the highest honor for a collegiate hockey player. We have analyzed the ten finalists to see how old they were as freshman, what leagues they came out of and where they are from. Of the ten players chosen, only three were drafted in the NHL and all three came in the fifth round. There were players from NTDP, USHL, AJHL, NAHL and BCHL. The players came from both US and Canada and entered NCAA hockey from ages 18-21. Surprisingly none of the players come from hockey’s largest hotbed; Ontario. However, there are representatives of the other major markets: Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Western Canada.

Below is a brief profile on each finalist for the Hobey Baker. The only patterns we find in this data is that the majority of players are undrafted, they come from the USHL and are upperclassmen.

 

Zach Aston Reese (6-0/190, Forward, Northeastern, Senior, ’94)

Long Island, NY       19 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, 14th round OHL Pick in 2010

3 season in the USHL (Lincoln Stars)

This season:  31 goals, 32 assists 63 points in 38 games. Leads the country in goals and points.

Recently Signed with Pittsburgh Penguins

 

Michael Bitzer (5-11/205, Goalie, Bemidji State, Junior, ’93)

Moorhead, MN          21 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, 2nd round USHL Draft pick in 2012

2 years in the USHL (Lincoln Stars), 4 years in Minnesota High School (Moorhead HS)

This season: 1.71 GAA   .932 SV% in 39 games played. Leads country in starts, GAA and sits fourth in SV% among goalies with over 10 starts.

 

Anders Bjork (6-0/185, Forward, Notre Dame, Junior, ’96)

Mequon, WI                18 yr old Freshman

Drafted 5th round in NHL Draft by Boston Bruins (2014)

US NTDP U17 & U18 and Chicago Mission (HPHL U14, U16)

This season: 19 goals, 28 assists for 47 points in 35 games. Ranks twelfth in the nation in points.

 

Will Butcher (5-10/190, Forward, Denver, Senior, ’95)

Sun Prairie, WI              18 yr old Freshman

Drafted 5th round in NHL Draft by Colorado Avalanche in 2013

US NTDP U17 & U18 and Madison Capitols (T1EHL U16/U18)

This Season: 6 goals, 29 assists, 35 points in 38 games with +23 rating. Tied for 2nd in points among defenseman and leads all defenseman in plus/minus.

 

Spencer Foo (6-0/185, Forward, Union, Junior, ’94)

Edmonton, AB              21 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, Undrafted in WHL, Undrafted in USHL

2 yrs in Bonnyville (AJHL) and CAC Edmonton Canadians Midgets

This Season: 24 goals, 35 assists, 59 points in 36 games. Ranks fourth in the country in points and first in +/- at +31.

 

Tyler Kelleher (5-6/155, Forward, UNH, Senior, ’95)

Longmeadow, MA               18 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, 13th round QMJHL Draft Pick,

US NTDP U17 & U18 and Deerfield Academy (NE Prep)

This Season: 24 goals, 39 assists, 63 points in 40 games. Leads the country in points, and assists

 

Alexander Kerfoot (5-10/175, Forward, Harvard, Senior, ’94)

Vancouver, BC                   18 yr old Freshman

Drafted in the 5th round of NHL Draft by New Jersey in 2012

2 years in the BCHL (Coquitlam) and 2 years in BCMMHL (Vancouver NW Giants)

This season: 16 goals, 24 assists, 40 points in 30 games. +20 rating. Top 15 in points per game

 

Tyler Sheehy (5-10/185, Forward, Minnesota, Sophomore, ’95)

Burnsville, MN                     20 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, Drafted 2nd round in USHL Draft in 2011

2 years in USHL (Waterloo) and 2 years in Minnesota HS (Burnsville HS)

This season: 20 goals, 32 assists, 52 points in 36 games. Ranks 8th in the country in points.

 

Mike Vecchione (5-10/195, Forward, Union, Senior, ’93)

Saugus, MA                    21 yr old Freshman

Undrafted in the NHL, Drafted in the 16th Round of USHL Draft, 12th round of QMJHL Draft

2 years in USHL (Tri City) and 2 years in Massachusetts HS (Malden Catholic)

This season: 29 goals, 33 assists, 62 points in 36 games. +23 rating. Third in the nation in points, first in points per game.

 

Charles Williams (5-10/195, Goalie, Canisius, Senior, ’92)

Detroit, MI               21 yr old Freshman  *Transferred to Canisius from Ferris State

Undrafted in the NHL, 9th round USHL Draft pick

1 year in NAHL (Owatonna), 1 year in USHL (Des Moines), 4 years in T1EHL (Compuware, Honeybaked, Little Caesar’s)

This season: 33 games played, 1.75 GAA, .946 SV%. Highest save percentage in the country among goalies with over 10 starts and 2nd in GAA.